Removable-panel metal end with cut protection

ABSTRACT

A removable-panel metal end for a container having cut protection. The metal end includes a top wall having a fold region and a panel. The panel is removable from the rest of the top wall and is delinated by a score. The fold region and score are configured such that in one area the score is outward and beneath the fold region in order to provide protection against any burrs created in the smile area by the removal of the panel and outside that one area the score is either equal to or inward of the fold region in order to prevent interference from the fold region during the panel&#39;s removal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a type of metal end attachable to a container and having a removable panel for access to the interior of the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Removable-panel metal ends, also known as full aperture closures, full panel pull-out (FPPO) ends, and convenience ends, are used for a variety of containers with numerous products. Removable-panel metal ends are typically attached to containers by double-seaming a curled outer edge of the end to a flange on the container. These ends include a removable panel to allow access to the interior of the containers. The panel is removed by severing a score, also known as a score line, that extends around the perimeter of the panel. Severing the score is accomplished by lifting up on a tab attached to the panel, causing the nose of the tab to bear down against the panel and initiate the breaking of the score. After this initial break occurs, the tab is then pulled upwardly and backwardly to sever the rest of the score and thereby remove the panel from the rest of the end.

The tearing of the metal along the score tends to create a sharp burr that remains on the rim of the metal end. Along the score near the tab nose (termed the “smile area”) this burr tends to be angled downwardly because the panel is pushed downwardly to create the initial break. In contrast, outside the smile area, the burr is angled upwardly because the panel is pulled upwardly to sever the metal in this region. The downwardly angled burr represents the greater cut hazard when a consumer places a hand or finger into the container (e.g., to scoop out powdered contents) and then pulls the hand or finger back upwardly against the rim.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above needs and achieves other advantages, by providing a removable-panel metal end for a container having cut protection. The metal end has a score defining a removable panel, and a tab is affixed to the panel. The end includes a fold region for cut protection and rigidity. A portion of the score adjacent to the tab nose lies radially outwardly of the fold region such that the fold region provides a cut-protection feature, and at other locations remote from the tab nose the score does not lie radially outwardly of the fold region to the same extent such that the panel may be removed without interference from the fold region.

In one embodiment of the invention, the removable-panel metal end comprises a top wall having a center and an outer periphery. A score is formed in the top wall extending about the center and spaced radially inwardly from the outer periphery so as to delineate a panel in the top wall. The panel is severable from an outer peripheral portion of the top wall. An opening tab is attached to an integral rivet that is formed in the panel. The opening tab has a nose portion positioned adjacent to an upper surface of the panel proximate the score, such that pivoting of the opening tab about the rivet causes the nose to bear downwardly on the panel to initiate severing of the score adjacent the nose.

The metal end further comprises a fold region formed in the outer peripheral portion of the top wall. The fold region has a bottom layer that extends radially outwardly from the score to an outer fold, a middle layer that extends radially inwardly from the outer fold to an inner fold, and an upper layer that extends radially outwardly from the inner fold. The fold region is configured such that the inner fold generally overlies the score. More specifically, the score path adjacent the tab nose lies radially outwardly of the inner fold such that the inner fold forms a cut-protection feature. The inner fold can be circular and have a substantially constant radius from the end's center, while the score path is non-circular. For example, the score path for an angular sector adjacent to the tab nose may have a non-circular-arc shape, and outside the angular sector the score path can have a circular-shape. Also, the top wall may further comprise a curl edge extending about the center for engaging the sidewall of the container.

The metal end of the present invention has several advantages. The configuration of the score path and fold region provides cut protection in the smile area without interfering with the removal of the panel. With the score configured to be further outward than the inner fold adjacent to the nose of the opening tab, contact with any downwardly-angled burr created along the fractured score in the smile area during removal of the panel is minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a removable-panel metal end of the present invention, in which a dashed line is used to identify the area where the score is radially outward of the inner fold;

FIG. 2 illustrates the path line of the score in one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are fragmentary sectional views taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of the 4 a and 4 b callouts of FIGS. 3 a and 3 b respectively;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial section of the metal end with the opening tab lifted upward; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container in FIG. 5 with the panel being removed by simultaneously pulling the opening tab up, backwards and away from the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention generally includes a metal end 10 for closing the opening of a container 15. In one embodiment, the metal end 10 has a top wall 11 including a center 12, an outer peripheral portion 17, a score 14, a panel 16, and a fold region 22.

The score 14 is formed in the top wall 11 and extends about the center 12 and is spaced radially inwardly from the outer peripheral portion 17. The path of the score 14 delineates the panel 16 that is severable from the outer peripheral portion 17 of the top wall 11. An integral rivet 18 is formed in the panel 16. An opening tab 19 is attached to the integral rivet 18. The opening tab 19 provides a means of severing the panel 16 and removing it from the top wall 11. More specifically, the opening tab 19 has a nose 20 and an opposite end 21 on the other side of the rivet 18 from the nose 20. The opposite end 21 is also known as a tab heel. The nose 20 is positioned adjacent to an upper surface of the panel 16 proximate the score 14. By pivoting the opening tab 19 about the rivet 18, i.e., lifting up on the opposite end 21, the nose 20 bears downwardly on the panel 16, initiating the severing of the score 14 adjacent the nose 20, as shown in FIG. 5. After the initial severing, the opposite end 19 is lifted upwards and away from the container 15, severing the entire length of the circumferential score 14 and removing the panel 16 from the outer peripheral portion 17 of the top wall 11 as illustrated in FIG. 6.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4 a and 4b, the fold region 22, formed in the outer peripheral portion 17 of the top wall 11, has a bottom layer 23 that extends radially outwardly from the score 14 to an outer fold 26, a middle layer 24 that extends radially inwardly from the outer fold 26 to an inner fold 27, and an upper layer 25 that extends radially outwardly from the inner fold 27. The fold region 22 is configured such that the inner fold 27 generally overlies the score 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the score's 14 path adjacent to the nose 20 (R1) lies more radially outward than the score's 14 path at locations remote from the nose 20 (R2).

The spatial relationship between the inner fold 27 and the score 14 in the present invention is advantageous because it provides for cut protection while not interfering with the removal of the panel 16. Specifically, as shown with R1 in FIG. 1, near the nose 20 the score 14 is further outward from the center 12 than is the inner fold 27, such that the inner fold 27 provides a cut protection feature that prevents or at least reduces the likelihood of contact with the downwardly-angled burr that is created along the score 14 in the smile area 30 when the nose 20 bears downward on the panel 16 to initiate the severing. However, the downward oriented burr is only a hazard in the smile area 30. Outside the smile area 30, any hazard from a burr along the score 14 would be from an upwardly-angled burr created when the panel 16 is pulled up and away from the outer peripheral portion 17 of the top wall 11. Moreover, if the inner fold 27 were closer to the center 12 than the score 14 throughout then the inner fold 27 would interfere with the removal of the panel 16 from the rest of the top wall 11. Therefore, away from nose 20, at R2, the score 14 is typically the same distance or closer to the center 12 than the inner fold 27, allowing for the removal of the panel 16 without interference from the inner fold 27.

The advantageous spatial relationship between the inner fold 27 and the score 14 can be accomplished in several manners. As illustrated, the inner fold 27 may extend along a circular path centered at the center 12. Similarly, the score 14 away from the tab nose 20 may extend about a circular path, c, centered at the center 12, with a radius less than or equal to the radius formed by the inner fold 27. In the area, a, adjacent to the nose 20, the score 14 may extend in a non-circular path, for example an elliptical path, at a distance farther from the center 12 than the inner fold 27. (See FIG. 2 for examples.)

The extent of the score portion adjacent to the nose 20 that lies at an increased radius R1 may vary. For example, the portion may occupy from about 45 degrees to about 180 degrees of arc about the center 12.

In the figures, the panel 16 is illustrated as being concentric with and similar to the general shape of the top wall 11. However, it should be noted that the panel 16 may have a different shape than that of the top wall 11 and/or may be off-centered with respect to the center of the top wall 11.

In another embodiment, the invention includes a container 15 having a side wall 28. A bottom end closes a bottom opening defined by the side wall 28. The side wall 28 also defines a top opening and has a top flange 29. The metal end 10 engages the top flange 29 of the side wall 28 and closes the top opening.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 

1. A removable-panel metal end for a container, comprising: a top wall having a center and an outer periphery, a score formed in the top wall extending about the center and spaced radially inwardly from the outer periphery so as to delineate a panel in the top wall that is severable from an outer peripheral portion of the top wall; an integral rivet formed in the panel, and an opening tab attached to the rivet, the opening tab having a nose positioned adjacent an upper surface of the panel proximate the score, such that pivoting of the opening tab about the rivet causes the nose to bear downwardly on the panel to initiate severing of the score adjacent the nose; and a fold region formed in the outer peripheral portion of the top wall, the fold region comprising a bottom layer that extends radially outwardly from the score to an outer fold, a middle layer that extends radially inwardly from the outer fold to an inner fold, and an upper layer that extends radially outwardly from the inner fold such that the inner fold generally overlies the score; wherein the score adjacent the tab nose lies radially outwardly of the inner fold such that the inner fold forms a cut-protection feature, and wherein at other locations remote from the tab nose the score does not lie radially outwardly of the inner fold to the same extent.
 2. The removable-panel metal end of claim 1, wherein the inner fold is circular and at a substantially constant radius from the center, and wherein the score has a non-circular path.
 3. The removable-panel metal end of claim 2, wherein the score for an angular sector adjacent the tab nose has a non-circular-arc shape.
 4. The removable-panel metal end of claim 3, wherein the score outside said angular sector has a circular-arc shape.
 5. A removable-panel metal end for a container, comprising: a top wall having a panel wherein the panel is severable from the top wall along a score delineating the panel from the top wall; an integral rivet formed in the panel, and an opening tab attached to the rivet, the opening tab having a nose positioned adjacent an upper surface of the panel proximate the score, such that pivoting of the opening tab about the rivet causes the nose to bear downwardly on the panel to initiate severing of the score adjacent the nose; and a fold region formed generally along the score, the fold region comprising a bottom layer that extends from the score away from the panel to an outer fold, a middle layer that extends from the outer fold toward the panel to an inner fold, and an upper layer that extends from the inner fold away from the panel such that the inner fold generally overlies the score; wherein the inner fold adjacent the tab nose generally extends past the score and overlies part of the panel by a first distance such that the inner fold forms a cut-protection feature, and wherein at other locations remote from the tab nose the inner fold extends up to the score or beyond the score by a second distance, the second distance is less than the first distance.
 6. A container having a removable-panel metal end with cut protection, said container comprising: a tubular side wall having a top flange and defining a top opening; and a metal end attached to the top flange of the side wall to close the top opening, wherein the metal end comprises, a top wall having a center and an outer periphery, a score formed in the top wall extending about the center and spaced radially inwardly from the outer periphery so as to delineate a panel in the top wall that is severable from an outer peripheral portion of the top wall, an integral rivet formed in the panel, and an opening tab attached to the rivet, the opening tab having a nose positioned adjacent an upper surface of the panel proximate the score, such that pivoting of the opening tab about the rivet causes the nose to bear downwardly on the panel to initiate severing of the score adjacent the nose, and a fold region formed in the outer peripheral portion of the top wall, the fold region comprising a bottom layer that extends radially outwardly from the score to an outer fold, a middle layer that extends radially inwardly from the outer fold to an inner fold, and an upper layer that extends radially outwardly from the inner fold such that the inner fold generally overlies the score, wherein the score adjacent the tab nose lies radially outwardly of the inner fold such that the inner fold forms a cut-protection feature, and wherein at other locations remote from the tab nose the score does not lie radially outwardly of the inner fold to the same extent. 